Sudden Ficiton

Pay What You Owe

Next stop Union square. Melanie was suddenly awakened from her deep sleep, she peeked one eye open, unaware of her surroundings, she looked around only to be confronted with three other eyes also staring in her direction. “Shit, I’m late” she mumbled to herself, while stuffing the papers she had scattered on her lap, into her small brown purse. The gray steel doors opened and Melanie found herself being flung side to side by the millions of other people needing to meet a time quota. “Excuse me! ” she yelled , while she ran up the stairs in her size nine Vera Wang heels. Her short blonde hair cut clung to her head, while sweat dripped down her neck. “Taxi” she screamed while waving her two arms in the air. The Taxi stopped abruptly and Melanie jumped in the passenger seat, “42nd and fifth avenue, step on it” she commanded the driver while pulling out her Blackberry, she suddenly was overwhelmed by her twelve voicemails and twenty new texts.
Most of her texts were from numerous men, ones she had met at all the clubs and events she frequently attended; men who all seemed to have one thing in common they were attracted to her mysterious, fun loving, tom-boyish nature and it seemed like they all wanted to be the volunteer to tame the wild female beast. Melanie deleted all of the texts, without giving notice to them and took her M.A.C make up case out of her bag. She began to fish through the empty tubes of foundation and searched for lipstick that wasn’t dried out or finished. She noticed the cab came to a halt and without asking how much she dug through the pockets of her trench coat and flung a crumpled up hundred dollar bill into the drivers lap. She hurried out of the car, unaware of the enormous tip she gave the driver and the pink M.A.C makeup bag and blackberry that was on the backseat.
Melanie approached two huge gold doors that read VOGUE across the front of it, and her nerves started to kick in, they were the only thing that actually was on schedule. A huge arrow read EDITORIAL AUDITIONS THIS WAY, which Melanie followed, she then found herself in a waiting room, surrounded by a variety of well dressed females. Many were buried into their laptops while others flipped through note cards. Melanie wondered if she should have skipped the party at the Tahona night club last night, and stayed home preparing for the interview. “I’ll be fine,” she thought, while luckily finding a seat next to a slim brunette.
“Nice Vera Wang’s” the brunette whispered sarcastically, “Last Season right?,” the girl questioned.
“I don’t really know, I got them at a thrift store,” Melanie answered unaware of the girl’s use of sarcasm.
“They’re quite interesting,” the brunette replied, returning back to her studying.
A man with a clip board opened the door, he seemed to be about 5’2 and was very welled dressed, “Melanie Citrus” he called out, “That’s me” Melanie said, walking over to were the man stood.
“Melanie you’re late, step lively” he said.
Melanie followed the man through the hallway as he stormed her with questions.
“Do you have your USB chip?” he asked.
“USB chip?” she questioned.
“Alright, well how are you going to be giving your presentation then?” the man asked annoyingly.
“What presentation?” she asked wide eyed.
“Mrs. Citrus, this is not a game, I take my job seriously and I do not have time for your foolish antics, any other girl in the room will love to take your spot”.
“Trust me, this is not a joke to me I am in need of this job badly, this is my dream job” Melanie pleaded. “I’m sorry I was unaware that we had to give a presentation”.
“Were you also unaware of the voicemail and emails the company sent informing the applicants of what they were required to bring? What did you expect to be judged on your good looks?” the man snapped.
Melanie stayed quiet trying to fight the tears that were forcing there way out of her eyes.
“Ms. Citrus, please exit out of the gold doors on your right,“ the man stated while walking away, leaving a distraught Melanie by herself in the hallway.
Melanie exited the building, her whole body was numb she couldn’t feel her legs and her throat was tight, she flagged down a Taxi. “1021 Cabrini Blvd” she told the driver. Melanie slid into the backseat without even taking notice of the shady character, that was in the driver’s seat. Melanie closed her eyes and rested her head on her lap and began to cry silently she then fell asleep once again and was awaken by the cab driver. “Ms. we have arrived“, the driver said. Melanie awoke, “I’m sorry sir, how much?” she asked. “Twenty-five” he said. She dug through her pockets searching for any forms of money, “Crap, what are you going to do now Melanie ?” she thought. She reached for the car door, hoping the driver wouldn’t notice her attempt to leave. She heard a click and realized that the doors were now locked.
A face turned around to meet Melanie, one that was covered with untrimmed facial hair and was wrinkled filled. A red cowboy hat sat upon the head guarding the eyes of its owner, while one single pointy ear poked out underneath.
Melanie’s heart began to pick up pace, and her hands began to shake, she was nervous and began to search for words, “My friend is upstairs with the money, let me um just call her and she’ll come down”. Melanie then searched through her brown purse, frantically looking for her phone, an unsuccessful search. She looked up hopelessly at the face, which began to smile, a smile full of yellow teeth.
“Guess you’re going to have to pay what you owe darling”, it whispered while turning up the car radio.
Melanie began to scream and bang on the car window, while Cyndi Laupers, Girl’s Just Wanna Have Fun echoed throughout the car, drowning out her cry’s for help.